Washington DC's nonvoting delegate to the House is the oldest member of the chamber—and some colleagues believe it could be time for Del. Eleanor Holmes Norton to call it a day. House Democrats tell Axios that Norton, who turned 88 last week, has slowed down significantly at a time when DC is under a lot of pressure from the Trump administration. "There was a time when she lobbied her colleagues to explain DC's positions," one lawmaker says. "She doesn't do that anymore." Others say she relies entirely on staffers and is "missing stuff." Several DC Council members tell the Washington Post that they respect the legacy of Norton, long known as DC's "warrior on the Hill," but with the District's autonomy threatened, it is time for her to pass the torch.
Norton's floor time in the House has dropped significantly and she appeared to struggle to read her remarks at a recent gala in her honor, the New York Times reports. Norton—who helped organize Martin Luther King Jr.'s 1963 March on DC—has been in office for 34 years and has helped push statehood from a niche local issue to part of the Democratic Party's platform, the Post reports. Last week, she said she would seek a 19th term in 2026 but she walked back her remarks hours later, saying that "through thoughtful discussions with my friends, family and closest advisers, I'm still considering my options for the next election cycle."
Longtime friend Donna Brazile, a Democratic strategist, is among those who have told Norton it's time to retire. "As her friend and someone who deeply admires her, I've made my peace with recommending to her that I think this is her final term," Brazile tells the Times. "This is an opportunity to help the District write a new chapter." In a statement last week, Norton rebuked "anyone questioning my ability to continue serving effectively," describing herself as a "tireless advocate for home rule and DC's right to self-government." (More Eleanor Holmes Norton stories.)
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